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Total trip distance traveled was approximately 9400km round trip. Left Iowa at 7:50 this morning, 12:03 hrs later I was home. Google is creepy accurate, it estimated something like 11 hrs driving, 12:01 with traffic. 700 miles and they had it almost to the minute. Smooth riding the whole way, sunny until about joliet (before chicago), then light rain on and off until lansing michigan. I was almost prescient, donning my rain attire at the gas station immediately before the rain (having guessed in the morning where I thought the weather and me would intersect). No wait at the border this time, took more time to remove my helmet then to have them check my passport. Gas is way cheaper in the US, even at the most in the US it would be like $14 to fill up, but I had to fill up in Canada for like $19. To keep with routine, and to stretch my legs (and I have no food at home right now) I walked uptown for dinner tonight.

I've had a great time and I am already thinking about the next one, (eastern canada perhaps? I intended to do that last year, before breaking my foot in the summer) but for now the bike is safely tucked away in the garage and deserves a through scrubbing and polishing tomorrow.

Not much to mention for today, sorry, nebraska and iowa are pretty boring. Hit a little bit of traffic in omaha around rush hour, but only a little. 700 miles to go. Will need some new gloves when I get home, these ones are getting kinda worn out.

Somewhere I missed a day or something, since this is actually day 14, not 13? Anyways, left the salt flats (see picture, at start still has vegetation, later there is just nothing but white) this morning. Its been a cold day, and the white of the salt almost looked like snow at first... That would come later. Really flat and really straight crossing. If your speed delta from other cars is only like a few mph it takes like 10 minutes to catch up to the next car to pass. Also, warning: the gas stations are spaced out, there isn't one for about a 70 mile stretch.

Crossed over my first set of mountain ranges at salt lake city, up to around 7000 ft, snow either side of the highway again. Then you're in wyoming. It's kinda meh, its not quite boring, but close. There are lots of hills and stuff but its fairly unpopulated and only gentle curves. Miles go pretty quickly. There isn't really anything to look at except lots and lots of snow fences. Also, it seems like every 5 miles there is a sign saying "strong winds next 5 miles"... How about at the start they just put up a sign, "strong winds next ALL of wyoming." Fortunately it was a tail wind, so didn't really come into play. Crossing the second major range at laramie takes you up to 8500ft, glad I had enough gear to keep warm. I am just into nebraska, and will cross it tomorrow.

First day of travel back east, did about 600 miles. Picked up my bike first thing in the morning, everything running smooth. Fresh set of battle axe touring tires ready to be broken in. Heading out of SF across the golden gate was fun, seemed smaller this time around because I could actually see all of it at once. Last time I crossed it was all foggy. From SF to Sacramento was okay and smooth going. From Sacramento to Reno things got interesting, I was riding up around 7000 ft crossing over the mountains. There is still tons of snow up that high, like 10ft either side of the highway. Really beautiful riding. Fortunately the highway was nice and dry. From nov 1 to apr 30 trucks legally must carry chains and use if needed, so any earlier this route might not have worked. Saw cabins still half buried in snow, felt weird to be riding right beside them. The rest of I-80 through nevada was pretty boring and straight, but went by fast. Cold as well, good thing I had my cold weather gear easily accessible to layer.

Rode right to sunset, made it all the way to wendover, and a few hundred meters across the border into utah and mountain time. Wendover is a strange town, being on the border the nevada half is all casinos, the utah half motels. Close to the salt flats so they have tons of capacity for when events happen in the salt flats, but its mostly empty right now on the utah side. Last photo of SF to post, no photos of snow from today.

Short post, mostly just hung out today. Replaced Keith's shower head with a better one. Went to the SF MoMA, had some good food for dinner and that was it. Picture is just a misc view. Tomorrow I start the trip back, kinda feels like 3 vacations in one. Coming here, visiting and then another going home. Weather forecast along the route back appears mostly sunny at this point, will exit SF via the golden gate tomorrow morning. Plan is basically I-80 from here to chicago.